PMER Manager -MENA ( Strong candidate Identified )

Job purpose

The PMER Manager for MENA region provides technical leadership and supports the development and improvement of the quality, relevance and timeliness of the MENA region’s planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting cycles. The PMER Manager is responsible for maintaining and improving the current PMER systems and practices to ensure a quality results-based system for planning, performance measurement, learning and accountability. The role will require development and maintaining systems and processes related to monitoring and accountability as well as supporting developing and implementing an evaluation and learning framework.

The post holder will mentor and guide the PMER capacity development processes for the Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies in the MENA region through the use of innovative and appropriate tools.

Job duties and responsibilities 

PMER capacity development and knowledge management  

• Design capacity development strategies to MENA NS, aligned with the region’s priorities.
• Lead, guide and support tailored PMER training to meet the needs of the MENA NS and the IFRC staff.
• Equip NSs with innovative data collection and analysis tools to foster a culture of data-driven and result-oriented decision making.
• Identify a pool of PMER practitioners to provide capacity building support (mentoring, peer-to-peer, training).
• Contribute actively to the IFRC Global PMER network and work closely together with the GVA team to improve the IFRC PMER learning tools.
• Disseminate and maintain an overview of trends concerning IFRC planning, monitoring and evaluation practices, strategies, guidelines and procedures and monitor adherence to them in support of National Societies in the region.
• Mainstream the results-based approach to programming through effectively coordinating with the regional technical units and supporting their learning activities.
• Foster a positive learning environment through engaging the partners NSs present in the region and brokering linkages and joint initiatives to ensure a standardised approach and maximized results in PMER capacity development for the MENA NSs.
• Promote and develop partnerships with relevant organizations in the region to exchange knowledge, strengthen capacity, performance and accountability of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Planning- coordinate and facilitate the production of high quality and timely IFRC operational plans

• Lead and provide guidance to the Global and Regional annual and emergency planning processes in MENA, liaising with the MENA units, CCSTs and Cos, to ensure compliance with IFRC standards and to improve coherence and quality and timeliness of the documents
• Inform and update regional partners the IFRC annual planning and reporting cycle.
• Oversee the review of overall quality and consistency of the plans for relevance, alignment, logic, coherence (including with financial data), credibility and clarity.
• Engage with the global PMER team to enhance, develop and update the IFRC annual planning systems and tools.
• Advise/participate in task forces on emergency appeals / DREFs, oversee the timely development of emergency appeals and ensure the establishment of clear emergency plans of action with indicators and monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Contribute to the strategic planning process at IFRC and NS levels, as required.

Reporting - Ensure quality and timely meeting of reporting obligations

• Ensure oversight, compliance and proactive risk assessment with regards to reporting requirements across the region in collaboration with finance, PRD and budget holders for enhanced accountability and improved partner relationship.  
• Lead and ensure quality assurance for IFRC reporting in MENA timeliness and compliance with IFRC reporting standards and formats while liaising with technical units at the regional or country office levels.
• Guide the strategic development of the Movement Wide Reporting System, while maintaining dialogue and cooperation with the relevant Movement components.
• Promote the development of data visualisation tools, in collaboration with the IM focal point, as a vehicle to improve the quality and coherence of the IFRC reports.
• Keep the IFRC reporting database with up-to-date as per the standard procedures and the audit requirements.

Monitoring - Enhance Monitoring practices

• Create, establish and maintain a culture of continuous learning and analysis of data at every level of the organisation with the objective of ensuring that programmes are refined and remain relevant in a changing context
• Together with PRD and Finance, monitor project-level implementation to track programme progress and uphold project managers’ accountability mainly towards more efficiency and effectiveness (e.g. minimising underspending)
• Optimize the use of technology to develop M&E systems at NS and IFRC levels, and hence improve the accuracy, timeliness and accessibility of monitoring and evaluation data. Also ensure that the developed M&E systems are developed based on local capacity, cost-effective approaches, flexibility, and sustainable processes.
• Support Country and Cluster offices directly to set up the best monitoring and evaluation practice and to support quality programming and accountability standards, as requested.
• Provide direct technical support to DREF monitoring missions.
• Provide technical advice and capacity-building support to National Societies and IFRC offices on the development and implementation of appropriate monitoring and evaluation and reporting systems, including the Federation-Wide Reporting System.

Evaluation - Promote quality and reliable evaluation

• Support, coordinate and manage evaluations in the region in compliance with the IFRC Evaluation Policy and ensure adequate follow-up and utilisation of the recommendations to further uphold accountability
• Advise the country offices and regional technical units on the most appropriate type of evaluation view the context, resources and nature of the intervention
• Provide technical guidance on methodologies and tools used in the development of reviews, evaluations, baselines and end-lines, using a range of quantitative and qualitative methods and various participatory methodologies to monitor performance, as requested
• Pilot innovative M&E initiatives to help equip the MENA region with Arabic tools and trained NS staff and promote the culture of learning
• Maintain the evaluation registry and database for regional and global learning.

Management - Ensure that the PMER unit meets its obligations for results and use of resources

• Manage programme and cost centre project budgets, including expenditure and income, as well as associated pledges and their related reports
• Manage the PMER team in all aspects of the PMER-related activities
• Contribute to an effective, high-quality IFRC team
• Ensure staff resources (direct and indirect) are effectively managed and developed in compliance with IFRC guidelines, policies and procedures
• Ensure the recruitment of the regional PMER staff, whether direct or indirect
• Support staff to achieve their objectives and continued development, including formal staff performance evaluation processes
• Mentor and strengthen capacities of existing IFRC regional and country programme staff with the dual objective of enabling staff to fulfil their current roles whilst contributing to their career development
• Lead in the formulation and implementation of the MENA PMER strategy and ensure that Senior Management is aware of/and briefed on further developments and initiatives affecting the team.

Engage with relevant networks and knowledge sharing processes:

• Provide input to the development of global quality standards and tools in the area of planning, monitoring and evaluation and accountability, ensuring that the outcomes of reviews and evaluations are incorporated into policy discussions
• Introduce and/or maintain appropriate PMER forums among IFRC and its stakeholders, both partners and beneficiaries, to discuss and support quality programming and accountability standards
• Support the sharing of findings and lessons learned from program M&E to improve overall organizational learning, especially the selection of future program interventions, as well as design and implementation. This includes liaison with external organizations to identify and disseminate good M&E practices in M&E and contribute to knowledge sharing
• Be a pro-active team member displaying a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost-effectiveness.

Other relevant tasks as required:

• Support MENA senior management, including support to regional conferences as necessary
• Facilitate S2030 consultation and dissemination process
• Contribute the overall Capacity building projects and activities at the regional office,
   

  Experience

   

  Required 

  Preferred

  Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in PMER for an international organisation

  x

   

  Minimum of 3 years of work experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, including time in the field and/or with a National Society

   

  X

  Knowledge of IFRC and National Society operating environment.

   

  X

  Previous experience in working in the MENA region

   

  X

  Knowledge and Skills

  Required 

  Preferred

  Strong background in report-writing and product delivery to tight deadlines. Ability to write, edit and analyse complex reports

  x

   

  Sound background of social research methodologies, including a highly developed analytical and communication skills and ability to assimilate and process information for wide-ranging audiences

  x

   

  Excellent computer skills. (e.g. Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat). Ability to perform page-layout, incorporating text, photos and other graphic elements for a printed page.

  x

   

  Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

  x

   

  Sound understanding of basic project finance (e.g. ability to explain the variance between budgeted and actual expenditure).

  x

   

  Knowledge and commitment to Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles,

  x

   

  Basic understanding of the legal framework of humanitarian operations, as well as gender, protection, social or human vulnerability issues.

  x

   

  Excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity.

  x

   

  Demonstrated abilities to work effectively under pressure

  X

   

  Tracked record in designing, leading and implementing adult learning programmes

  X